Islamic State release second video showing Brit hostage John Cantlie

PRISONER: John Cantlie appears in the IS video reciting a prepared script [YOUTUBE]

The clip – the second showing the journalist to be circulated by IS militants in less than a week – emerged in the early hours of this morning, according to reports.

SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors Jihadist groups, described the latest footage as the "first episode" in a series involving Mr Cantlie speaking about the group.

The clip, which lasts for almost six minutes, follows a similar pattern to the first video featuring the photojournalist, showing him sitting at a desk dressed in the now-familiar orange outfit worn by other IS hostages.

JOURNALIST: Mr Cantlie was working in Syria when he was captured [GETTY]

The clip is introduced with the title Lend Me Your Ears and Messages From The British Detainee John Cantlie before the Briton appears on screen.

Mr Cantlie looks calm and appears to be reciting a prepared script. It does not show any of his captors and features no threats to kill.

As reported by the BBC, he says western governments "were caught napping by the sheer speed of the Islamic State's growth" and have underestimated "the strength and fighting zeal of the opponent".

He added: "Not since Vietnam have we witnessed such a potential mess in the making."

Last week a video surfaced showing Mr Cantlie in a similar setting saying he would speak about IS in future videos. Both videos appear to be well-produced, with good quality sound and lighting.

Links of the video posted on YouTube appeared to have been removed.

Mr Cantlie has worked for newspapers including the Sunday Times.

IS have beheaded three Western hostages since August – US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and British aid worker David Haines.